a big wtf to the judge
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3009251.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3009251.stm
A New York judge has awarded nearly $104m in damages to the families of two victims of the 11 September terror attacks.
Judge Harold Baer ruled on the basis that the families had been able to show a tenuous link between Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
The compensation awarded to the families of businessmen George Smith and Timothy Soulas may be taken from Iraqi assets frozen in the US.
Although the US Government suspects Iraq supported the attacks, it has not been able to prove a connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda.
Judge Baer said in his ruling: "I conclude that plaintiffs have shown, albeit barely, by evidence satisfactory to the court, that Iraq provided material support to bin Laden and al-Qaeda."
The evidence was based on a statement by Secretary of State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council on 5 February.
'Few actual facts'
The judge also cited claims by former CIA director James Woolsey that the apparent leader of the 11 September hijackers, Mohamed Atta, met an Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague in April 2001.
There was also evidence from Laurie Mylorie, an expert on Iraq and terrorism.
"Although these experts provided few actual facts of any material support that Iraq actually provided, their opinions... provide a sufficient basis for a reasonable jury to draw inferences which could lead to the conclusion that Iraq provided material support to al-Qaeda," the judge said.
The families had named the former Taleban regime in Afghanistan, the al-Qaeda network, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and the Republic of Iraq as responsible for the attacks.
The case is significant because it is thought to be the first such action against Iraq and al-Qaeda that has reached the damages phase.